Dental Floss Formed from Botanic and Botanically Derived Fiber

Abstract

A dental implement comprising a botanic fiber is disclosed. The dental implement can be a dental floss. A floss formed of a blend of botanic fiber and silk is also disclosed. A floss formed of a blend of botanic fiber and Sorona® polymer is also disclosed. A floss formed of a blend of botanic fiber and Sorona® polymer and silk is also disclosed. A floss formed of a blend of PLA fiber and Sorona® polymer is also disclosed. In one aspect, the botanic fiber is soybean protein fiber and in another it is PLA fiber. Various blends of soybean protein fiber and silk and PLA fiber and silk are disclosed. Also, various blends of soybean protein fiber and Sorona® polymer are disclosed as are various blends of PLA fiber and Sorona® polymer. Also, various blends of soybean protein fiber and Sorona® polymer and silk are disclosed. A dental floss formed of Sorona® and/or Ingeo® fibers in combination with other botanic and non-botanic fibers is disclosed and the dental floss may be coated with various coatings.

1 . A dental floss comprising Sorona® polymer fibers. 
   
   
       2 . The dental floss of  claim 1  and further comprising soybean protein fibers. 
   
   
       3 . The dental floss of  claim 2  and further comprising silk fibers. 
   
   
       4 . The dental floss of  claim 1  and further comprising PLA fibers. 
   
   
       5 . The dental floss of  claim 4  and further comprising silk fibers. 
   
   
       6 . The dental floss of  claim 1  and further comprising botanic fibers. 
   
   
       7 . The dental floss of  claim 6  and further comprising silk fibers. 
   
   
       8 . The dental floss of  claim 1  and further comprising non-botanic fibers. 
   
   
       9 . The dental floss of  claim 8  and wherein the non-botanic fibers comprise PTFE fibers. 
   
   
       10 . The dental floss of  claim 1  and further comprising a coating on the dental floss. 
   
   
       11 . The dental floss of  claim 10  and wherein the coating is selected from a group consisting of surfactants, fluoridating treatments, medicinal agents, antimicrobial agents, flavorings, friction altering coatings, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The dental floss of  claim 11  and wherein the coating includes a vegetable wax. 
   
   
       13 . The dental floss of  claim 11  and wherein the coating includes a wax derived from a fruit. 
   
   
       14 . The dental floss of  claim 13  and wherein the fruit is a legume. 
   
   
       15 . The dental floss of  claim 14  and wherein the wax is derived from soybeans. 
   
   
       16 . A dental floss formed of a at least two fibrous materials, at least one of the fibrous materials comprising a PLA fiber. 
   
   
       17 . The dental floss of  claim 16  and wherein one of the fiberous materials comprises Sorona® polymer fiber. 
   
   
       18 . The dental floss of  claim 16  and wherein one of the fibrous materials comprises Ingeo® polymer fiber. 
   
   
       19 . A dental floss comprising Ingeo® polymer fibers. 
   
   
       20 . The dental floss of  claim 19  and further comprising at least one additional fiber selected from a group consisting essentially of PLA fibers, soybean protein fibers, botanic fibers, non-botanic fibers, silk, and combinations thereof.